The Trump administration has been deporting Mexican migrants to Guatemala and Honduras rather than returning them to their home country, according to two Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials. The Mexican government, which has expressed a willingness to accept the return of all its citizens, formally stated its opposition to the practice.
Historically, the United States has deported Mexican citizens caught at the southern border to locations deep within Mexico to discourage repeat illegal entries. While the U.S. has previously sent migrants to "third countries"—nations other than their country of origin—this has typically occurred when home countries like Cuba limit or reject deportations. According to immigration policy experts, Mexico has historically accepted all U.S. deportations of its nationals.
Two DHS officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that the deportations have occurred for months and have involved hundreds of Mexican citizens. The officials said the U.S. government has not formally announced the policy. One stated objective of the practice is to deter illegal immigration by placing Mexican citizens further south and at a greater distance from the U.S.-Mexico border.
The knock-on effects involve a formal diplomatic disagreement between the United States and Mexico. The Mexican Foreign Ministry said it has no agreement in place for such deportations and "rejects the deportation of Mexican nationals to third countries." Adam Isacson, a researcher at the Washington Office on Latin America, said the practice functions as a deterrent by "broadcasting the hardship" to other potential migrants, potentially encouraging self-deportation among the undocumented population in the U.S. to avoid being sent to Central America.
It is currently unknown if the U.S. has formal arrangements with Guatemala or Honduras for these specific deportations, as those governments did not respond to requests for comment. DHS representatives also did not respond to questions regarding the flights. Because the program has not been formally announced, there is no public information regarding an end date, scheduled votes, or court hearings related to the practice. Migrants and legal advocates would notice the impact immediately upon a deportation order being executed.